Eleven states now have more older adults than children, nearly quadrupling from just three states in 202012. Delaware, Hawaii, Montana, New Hampshire, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and West Virginia joined Maine, Vermont, and Florida in this demographic milestone.

The gap between age groups has narrowed dramatically. From 2020 to 2024, the older population grew by 13.0% while children declined by 1.7%, reducing the difference between these groups from over 20 million to below 12 million2.

"Children still outnumber older adults in the United States, despite a decline in births this decade," said Lauren Bowers, chief of the Census Bureau's Population Estimates Branch. "However, the gap is narrowing as baby boomers continue to age into their retirement years1."

The year 2025 marks "Peak 65," with approximately 11,400 Americans turning 65 every day1. By year's end, about 73 million baby boomers will be 65 or older, comprising more than a fifth of the U.S. population1.

Census projections show the percentage of working-age Americans between 18 and 64 will drop from 60% in 2025 to 55% by 21002. The worker-to-beneficiary ratio for Social Security will fall from 3.3 in 2005 to a projected 2.1 in 20403.

Birth rates have plummeted from 16.7 per 1,000 people in 1990 to 10.9 per 1,000 in 20201. The U.S. birth rate now stands at 1.62 children per woman, well below the 2.1 needed to maintain population without immigration2.

By 2050, Americans 65 and older are projected to reach 82 million, accounting for 23% of the total population3. Annual rates of natural increase will turn negative starting in 2038, making population growth entirely dependent on immigration2.